London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1924
The annual report on the health of the Borough for the year1924
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11
ABOVE STANDARD DEATHS.
In almost every area there is a number of infant births and deaths occurring in those betterclass
homes where it is reasonable to assume that the children receive every care and all
requisite medical and nursing assistance. These are called " above standard " cases and, although
it is difficult to make certain that none is included under this heading in which the attention of a
Woman Health Officer might prove beneficial, they are not generally visited because, in the first
place, the Health Officer may not be welcomed and, in the second place, she can occupy
her time more profitably in visiting homes in the poorer quarters.
In 1924 the "above standard" births numbered 768 and the deaths 19, giving an infantile
mortality rate of 24.
The 2,140 births and 200 deaths not " above standard " in 1924 give an infantile mortality
rate of 93.
The causes of death in the " above standard" cases are as follow :—
| Pneumonia and bronchitis | 3 |
| Infantile debility | 3 |
| Premature birth | 5 |
| Other causes | 8 |
| Total | 19 |
The wards to which the children belonged are :—
| St. Charles | 2 |
| Golborne | — |
| Norland | 2 |
| Pembridge | 2 |
| Holland | 5 |
| Earl's Court | 1 |
| Queen's Gate | — |
| Redcliffe | 7 |
| Brompton | — |
| Total | 19 |
ILLEGITIMATE INFANT DEATHS.
In 1924, 64 per cent. of the births in Kensington were illegitimate and 8.2 per cent. of the
infant deaths were of children of this class.
The following table compares the legitimate and illegitimate births, infant deaths and infantile mortality rates in Kensington for 1924.
| Total. | Legitimate. | Illegitimate. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Births | 2,908 | 2,723 | 185 |
| Infant Deaths | 219 | 201 | 18 |
| Rate per 1,000 births | 75 | 73 | 97 |
One infant found dead in regard to whom no particulars of parentage could be obtained
has been classed as illegitimate.
There has been a satisfactory decline in the number of illegitimate births in recent years as evidenced by the following table:—
| 1919 | 256 |
| 1920 | 274 |
| 1921 | 308 |
| 1922 | 207 |
| 1923 | 205 |
| 1924 | 185 |
The following table compares the total infantile mortality rate for the Borough in recent years
with the illegitimate infantile mortality rate:—